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Abstract
Although progress has been made in increasing the representation of women in political institutions, their roles in the legislative process remains limited, and substantive representation of women's interests requires not only descriptive representation but also power and influence over the legislative process. The emergence of social media platforms provides a new space for politicians to express their political interests and spread over a wider audience. Examining senators' public rhetoric on social media can provide insights into their potential legislative interests and attention focus, and advocacy for women's interests is crucial in promoting gender equality and social justice. This study investigates whether female senators advocate more for women's interests on social media than their male counterparts and whether female senators with higher leadership roles advocate more for women's interests. However, this study finds that women with higher information control and power do not necessarily advocate for women's interests more frequently, suggesting a tension between leadership and substantive representation of women's interests. Additionally, Republican senators publish significantly fewer statements about women's interests than independent and Democratic senators. This study addresses a gap in current theories regarding the impact of women's power and status on promoting substantive representation of women in the legislative process, particularly on the advocacy for women's interests on social media platforms.